Canada bars women in veil taking citizenship oath

Toronto, Women aspiring for Canadian citizenship have been barred from wearing burqa or Islamic hijab when they take oath of citizenship, Immigration Minister Jason Kenney said. The move was announced by the minister yesterday, who said it was necessary as women with face coverings could not be fully identified at ceremonies to swear-in new citizens, the Montreal Gazette reported. The ban has triggered widespread concerns among the Islamic community here as they fear that it could lead to similar ban in other settings. Canada has now joined countries like France, Belgium, Australia and Netherlands who have banned women from covering their face in public. In Australia, the ban has been imposed in only two states. The Immigration Minister said that there were misgivings about covering of faces by women. He said the feelings were that new citizens should take oath in full view of other fellow citizens. (...)